The Medical Education Network Sites are an integral part of the School of Medicine’s mission to implement rural health initiatives throughout the state of Kansas.
Medical Education Network Site goals and activities are:
Teaching
- Coordinate development of activities for community-based faculty with the Office of Medical Education
- Ensure that the designed curricula are being delivered
- Promote opportunities for rural rotations in Family Medicine, Surgery and Rural Preceptorships
Coordinate and participate in local pre-medical student recruitment activities
- Primary care workshops
- Medical schooliInterviews
- Scholars in Rural Health
- Summer Rural Program
- Annual rising third-year meeting
- Recommend improvements to statewide student/resident incentive programs
Maintain physician/clinical resources within the region for educational programs
- Maintain medical library and Internet information services by supporting local medical center educational programs
- Assist continuing education offices in assessment of educational needs, delivery of innovative programs and evaluation
Identify and develop collaborative community partnerships
- Serve as an information clearinghouse for communities to easily access KU resources
- Involvement in committees in the community
Research
- Assist with statewide practice-based research network coordination
- Involvement with grants
Continuing Education
The Network Site coordinates and facilitates monthly continuing medical education. Topics are requested by area healthcare professionals, many times using our ITV resources. The site secretary applies for and keeps track of CME credit for physicians.
ITV Room
ITV Room The ITV room is a mediated classroom that is available for PowerPoint presentation and Internet access.
The monthly physician CMEs are also held in the ITV room.
Research
The Network Site partners with a community Wellness Institute Committee on a variety of initiatives related to healthy lifestyles.
Students participated in the application process leading toward a successful awarding of a Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyles Sunflower Grant received in 2007 for the McPherson community. This grant was used to integrate healthy meal options in the local school district through 2010.
Annually since 2010, the committee also participated in an initiative to promote health and wellness in the community. A “Commit to Get Fit” campaign encouraged community participants to engage in healthy eating and regular exercise over a designated time period and it continues today.
Network Site Office
Our site is unique in that third-year students do their rotations in McPherson or Moundridge. They are housed in our new network site complex. Students have daily contact with the site coordinator for any assistance that is needed. The network site coordinator maintains a medical library for students and all healthcare professionals. We have two student computers that are connected to the Internet and have direct access to Dykes Library. The network site coordinator helps with literature searches for students and other medical professionals as requested.
Medical Library
Medical Library The extensive Medical Library is reviewed and updated each year based on recommendations by the Library Committee and medical student input. Any outdated materials are available for doctors and students to add to their personal libraries.
Virtual library resources include access to the Dykes Library system, Up to Date, multiple textbooks, Internet resources and literature searches for local faculty.
Students
Students that come to McPherson and Moundridge find a dedicated group of physicians who love to teach and share with students their knowledge and expertise.
Students often express how much they value this one-on-one time and the amount of teaching and experience they receive. Without a doubt the strength of the south-central site is our doctors!
McPherson:
Jody Bieker, MD, Emergency Department
Michael Bloustine, MD, Hospitalist
Alicia Chennell, MD, Family Medicine (w/OB)
Clay Fetsch, MD, FACS, General Surgery
Andrea Herrera, MD, Direct Primary Care
Rachel Nichols, MD, Hospitalist
Brandon Stringer, MD, FACS, General Surgery
Carl Turner, DO, Family Medicine (w/ OB)
Trenton Van Eaton, MD, Family Medicine
Ruth Lehman Wiens, MD, Family Medicine (w/OB)
Moundridge, Family Practice
Marla Ullom-Minnich, MD
Paul Ullom-Minnich, MD
James Ratzlaff, MD